Naval ship decoy

Abstract

A method for defeating or reducing the effectiveness of efforts to detect, track or target a naval vessel by means of its characteristic underwater and electrical fields. In this method, a wave form which mimics the characteristic electrical field produced by a particular type of naval vessel is first ascertained. A decoy which is able to produce, amplify and transmit this wave form which mimics the characteristic electrical field produced by said particular type of naval vessel is then deployed.

1. A method for defeating or reducing the effectiveness of efforts to detect, track or target a particular type of naval vessel by means of its characteristic underwater electrical field, said method comprising the steps of:
 ascertaining a wave form which mimics the characteristic electrical field produced by said particular type of naval vessel; and 
 causing a decoy to produce, amplify and transmit said wave form which mimics the characteristic electrical field produced by said particular type of naval vessel, whereby said decoy will tend to be misidentified as said particular type of naval vessel. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein a wave form generator produces the wave form. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the wave form generator transmits the wave form to a power amplifier which amplifies said wave form. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3  wherein there is a power source which provides power to the wave form generator. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the power source also provides power to the power amplifier. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 2  wherein there is an antenna connected to the wave form generator which transmits the wave form. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the antenna is a differential antenna. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 2  wherein the wave form generator is included in a decoy and said decoy is caused to move. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the decoy is self propelled. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 8  wherein the decoy is navigated. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the decoy is self navigated. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the characteristic electrical field of the naval vessel is an alternating electrical field created by a propeller of the naval vessel. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the alternating electric field establishes a substantially spectrally pure signature which does not vary substantially with time. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13  wherein a relatively large signal to noise ratio is used. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 12  wherein there are changing flux lines which rotate with the propeller. 
   
   
     16. A decoy for defeating or reducing the effectiveness of efforts to detect track or target a particular type of naval vessel by means of its characteristic underwater electrical field comprising:
 a wave form generator for producing a waveform which mimics the characteristic underwater electric field produced by said particular type of naval vessel; and 
 means for amplifying and transmitting said wave form mimicking the characteristic electrical field produced by said particular type of naval vessel, whereby said decoy will tend to be misidentified as said particular type of naval vessel. 
 
   
   
     17. The decoy of  claim 16  wherein a wave form generator produces the wave form. 
   
   
     18. The decoy of  claim 17  wherein the wave form generator transmits the wave form to a power amplifier which amplifies said wave form. 
   
   
     19. The decoy of  claim 18  wherein there is a power source which provides power to the wave form generator. 
   
   
     20. The decoy of  claim 19  wherein the power source also provides power to the power amplifier. 
   
   
     21. The decoy of  claim 16  wherein there is an antenna connected to the wave form generator which transmits the waveform. 
   
   
     22. The decoy of  claim 21  wherein the antenna is a differential antenna. 
   
   
     23. The decoy of  claim 16  wherein the decoy is moved by a propulsion means. 
   
   
     24. The decoy of  claim 23  wherein the decoy is self propelled. 
   
   
     25. The decoy of  claim 24  wherein the decoy includes a navigation means.